Having Trouble Watering Orchids? Master These Key Points
They say it takes three years of practice to master watering orchids, and everyone has always said so. Watering orchids really is hard! But I think what is truly hard is understanding the nature of orchids. Why do I say that? In their natural environment, after more than twenty days of continuous rain, orchids actually grow more and more vigorously, their leaves becoming ever more upright and elegant, their leaf color ever more soft and lustrous. This shows that poor orchid growth is not entirely a matter of watering, and if you can understand the nature of orchids, you will be able to water them with perfect ease.
When orchid roots rot, is it a watering problem? Not entirely. The first thing to look at is the potting medium. If we understand that orchid roots are fleshy roots that need air circulation, then once the problem of medium aeration is solved, watering will no longer be a problem.
When orchid leaves develop scorched tips, is it a watering problem? Also not entirely. If we understand orchids well enough, we know that in the wild, orchid roots lie in soil covered by a thick layer of fallen branches and leaves, and the temperature around the roots is relatively stable, without sudden heat or sudden cold. But for orchids grown in pots, as temperatures and light change, the roots are highly prone to sudden heat and sudden cold, and this is the main cause of scorched leaf tips. Knowing this, we will try our best to avoid sudden temperature changes in the pot and water when the temperature is relatively stable.
When orchid new shoots rot, is it a watering problem? Also not entirely. It is mainly a matter of ventilation. In their natural environment, orchid new shoots rarely rot, because in the wild there is ventilation everywhere. Where I grow orchids, the ventilation is very good, and I water by drenching the orchids thoroughly from top to bottom with a spray bottle, yet rot of new shoots rarely happens.
If you understand the nature of orchids and know that the rainwater in your area is unpolluted, you will let the orchids receive as much rain and dew as possible, and with more connection to the natural world, the orchids will be full of even more vitality.